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Lloyds Confirms 23 Further Branch Closures for 2026 as NatWest Adds Seven

Banks attribute the cuts to a sustained shift to mobile banking, with Post Office counters, telephone lines and shared hubs offered as alternatives.

Overview

  • Lloyds closed 17 branches in January and has scheduled 23 more through March and October 2026, with dates set for locations including Thornbury, Sleaford, Ryde and Stoke-on-Trent.
  • Lloyds Banking Group says in-branch transactions have fallen 55% over five years and directs customers to more than 11,000 Post Office sites, banking hubs and telephone banking.
  • The group’s 2026 plans also include 14 Halifax closures and 17 Bank of Scotland closures.
  • NatWest announced seven additional closures for 2026, with Cromer closing on January 27 and Market Drayton on March 4, and dates to be confirmed for Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Torquay and other sites.
  • NatWest will give 12 weeks’ notice, proactively contact vulnerable customers, run a dedicated support line for over-60s and work with Cash Access UK on community banking hubs.